To be fair Martinez is hitting .239 while Cesar Hernandez and Josh Fields are only hitting .312 and .308 respectively. So this was obviously about production. Or it could be about speed as Mini Mart has 4 SB in 6 tries vs. Cesar Hernandez’ 12 SB in 14 tries.

Pete Orr is actually better than MiniMart. He hits better and is a faster runner. Their fielding is probably about the same, but even if you want to give a slight edge to Martinez there, Orr beats him by enough in the other categories to be the better all around player.

You know…I’m one of Ruben’s biggest supporters. I could even be called an apologist, I suppose. There have been moves I didn’t like all that much or maybe questioned a little and there have been other moves that I fully supported even when the majority of my fellow commenters ripped him apart for them. For the most part, I agree/agreed with most of what he’s done or at least given the moves a fair chance. This, however, is just mind-boggling, absolutely one of most stupid-ass roster moves I have ever heard of. I REALLY can’t wait to hear his explanation and justification for this.

I can’t take it anymore!!! I think we need to request a meeting with Phillies management, because they really need to explain the logic here. Galvis will take Utley’s place at second base, Frandsen is a backup, why call up Martinez? His fielding is average, baserunning below average, hitting way below average. You did a great job of highlighting Martinez stats. How does he go on? He is literally the WORST baseball player, why doesn’t he quit? Why do the Phillies keep him? Well I guess the Phils don’t have a problem with batting average, obp and slg… since they are so good there. Oh wait, they are 16th in average, 25th in obp, 24th in slg….and since we know there is no direct correlation between gettting on base (WALKING) and runs it doesn’t matter. But hang on, where do they rank in runs? Oh right 26th. After the three games with Washington, they play two in Boston……hmm, DH….maybe bring up a guy with a stick…..MARTINEZ!!!! Not sure who to hate hear, Manuel, Amaro, all Phillies management.

Ruf plays one position on the infield. He can’t sub at SS, 2nd base, or 3rd base. The only reserve infielder would be Frandsen, because Galvis will be manning 2nd in Utley’s absence. Ruf can’t play any of those spots even in an emergency.

The F.O. probably feels that Hernandez needs everyday at bats that he won’t get as an ML bench player.

Pete Orr may have been a better choice, I’ll admit. But is Orr even on the 40 man roster? Even if he is, he would get just as few opportunities to play as MiniMart, which will probably amount to nearly none. To me, the whole thing is no big deal.

George – All you have to do is look at his numbers and that will tell you that it’s obviously a horrendous move. And as for your argument of infield versatility, that’s what Frandsen is for. Do we REALLY need another guy that can play the infield when there’s a cry for more offensive production? You’re saying that it’s “no big deal”…you know, that 25th man on the roster thing….but when the team is already struggling offensively wouldn’t it make more sense to call up a guy that can actually help with that?? This is a dumb move…plain and simple.

Exactly. Frandsen AND Galvis can cover 2nd will Chase is down. Based on that, what we’ll need is a good pinch-hitter bat we can bring late in games and make a difference. Someone like Ruf, possibly. Or anyone who can hit an occasional double or homer. Anyone but Mini-Mart.

I STILL say the Phils need the infielod versatility, because there may be times when Galvis, Frandsen, Young, or Rollins can’t go. They’ve been carrying two extra infielders all season, and the age of the infiled is the primary reason for that; Utley is the proof that the regulars will need breaks.

And just how many times do you believe an offensive guy will be used, seeing as how he’d be the 25th man? Wouldn’t it be better for the Rufs and Hernandezes to continue on a regular routine so they can develop into long term replacements?

Utley is not supposed to be out for very longh. I expect Martinez to get fewer than ten at bats. How are ten at bats going to hurt or help? Maybe Ruf or Hernandez would get one or two more hits than Martinez.

I will continue to feel that the entire thing is no big deal. If Utley’s gone for more time than expected, or another infielder hits the DL, then, and only then, will that 25th man be a problem. I’m sure that will be addressed IF IT HAPPENS.

George you must be the “butt buddy” of RAJ to defend this Frigging move. Been following baseball and rooting for the Phils since 1952 and I’m ready to give up on this “idiot” led team. MiniMart should not even be playing Minor league baseball let alone being brought back up to a team who can’t hit. ANYBODY in their system has to be a better choice then this clown. Games are coming up with AL teams. Need help at DH not a 4th middle infielder. Jesus Christ I’m going to throwup.

George – I’ve “checked in on a few other blogs in addition to PN and I think you are the ONLY person to actually endorse this move. Either you know something that the rest of us don’t or the rest of us are stupid as hell.

Oh yea, completely forgot about the need to DH coming up in a FOUR-game series against the Red Sox. You could easily have Howard DH (given that he’s day-to-day) and Ruf or anyone with a semi-decent bat play 1B.

I’m not even going to mention the subject’s name because the whole situation with him is laughable. He shouldn’t be on our roster…period. The move in and of itself is embarrassing. At some point, don’t we need to see what Ruf can do for us at the major league level? If you’re going to pass him up for a guy who can’t even hit his weight, why keep Ruf around? This team is not going anywhere with it’s current roster. Bring some guys up and let’s see what they can do.

I hear you…my wife and I just sold our tickets for next Saturday’s game against Milwaukee. With Utley, Ruiz and Halladay out and the offense and bullpen sucking, there’s not much to watch these days. And I’m certainly not shelling out over $100 and wasting an afternoon to watch Michael Martinez.

Lefty…you make a lot good posts on this website, so I’ll ask you – does this team want to compete this year or not? Are you as confused by this move as I am? This is the toughest and most critical part of their schedule coming up. The team needs offense and relief help. So you bring up a utility infielder who couldn’t hit Rosie O’Donnell with an earth ball?!!?

Honestly, I don’t think this move makes or breaks the season one way or the other. We’re talking about the 25th man, – it’s Ender Inciarte, it’s Ezequiel Carrera. I look at it this way, can he be a worse pinch runner than Cliff Lee? If the answer is no, then the move is inconsequential.

Chase Utley’s injury on the other hand, absolutely could be a season changer if it goes as long as the 30- 40 days that some say experts say it could. You don’t replace that kind of production so easily.

My comment above is representative of when I was a kid in the 1950’s, and my mom used to tell me- “if you don’t have something nice to say about someone, say nothing at all”.

The joy of recall apparently has The Mini Man more excited than some of the fan base. Did you say SOME?

Check out Mini’s twitter account. His most recent tweet as of when we’ll smack the send button pictorially indicates he has interest in sticking for a spell. At least that’s how the old saying goes…there’s no place like home.

Once again ruin tomorrow Jr shows he has no plans of winning a divison or a series. Ive said it before and Ill say it again. AS LONG AS MINI MART AND DURBIN REMAIN ON THIS TEAM,I BELIEVE THIS TEAM HAS NO COMITTMENT TO WINNING OR CONTENDING !!! RELEASE THOSE GUYS AND I”LL HAVE FAITH AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t really care about the “he’s the 25th man on the roster” argument. The point is….he sucks as an MLB player and shouldn’t be up here. AT ALL! PERIOD! Christ…if the dude could actually somehow contribute… CONSISTENTLY… then fine. But he can’t hit at all, really isn’t all that that fast, is an adequate fielder that plays a few positions but that’s about it. Frandsen can play 3 infield positions (incl 1B) To me, this team ….RIGHT NOW … needs someone like a Darin Ruf or a Cesar Hernandez to maybe help provide some kind of spark. Mini Mart ain’t that guy.

i give up! i don’t even have the will to complain about this incompetent so called ball player being brought up. to even have him waste a 4a man roster spot is a disgrace. i was always willing to give rube the benefit of the doubt. but not any more. i actually hope they go into a tailspin and monty grows a set and fires rube, chollie the whole minor league scouting dept. and gets this thing moving forward again ASAP.

Yeah, Lefty…we’re all “emotionally charged” because this is one of the stupidest goddam moves any of us has ever seen. He’s not in the lineup—thank God!—- but he’s on the bench and, therefore, can come into the game. And none of us wants to see that happen since there are more deserving and qualified people to occupy that “25th man” pot.

As an English teacher, I can tell you that this move makes a lot of sense. Other than Kyle Kendrick, the Phillies have a dearth of alliterative names on the team. Any good GM can tell you that the way a name rolls off the tongue is important–especially when it is Charlie Manuel’s tongue.

Orr hasnt been swinging the bat all that great in the minors. However he still would of been a better choice. Kind of surprising seen that Rube will take the more “experienced” candidate overall despite the numbers 8 out of 10 times. Which in this case will be Pete Orr. The only way this move would of made sense if something was wrong with J-Roll. Rube must have some logic “his logic” behind this move. Depending on how long Chase is out the move may not be a huge deal. Though it isnt really about that but more so what is RAJ thinking,

One possible rationale for calling up Mini Mart…Maybe they plan to call up Ruf (and send Mini Mart back to AAA) for the 2 games in Boston after which they plan to send Ruf back down. If they do this, they can’t call back up the player that they just sent down (Mini Mart) for 10 days, so they’ll have to call up a third player (Fields?) from AAA. In other words, maybe the plan all along is to only have Mini Mart for the 3 games in Washington, have Ruf for the 2 games in Boston and have another player for the bulk of the time represented by the remainder of Utley’s absence.